The Street Musician Agreement (SMA) was created in 1994 by a coalition of street musicians, local businesses, government officials, and residents in an effort to maintain livability in Downtown Portland, while encouraging music on Downtown’s vibrant streets.

What parts of town does the SMA apply to?

The SMA only applies to Downtown Portland. This includes the area encompassed by I-405, the Willamette River, and West Burnside Street.

What are the guidelines that musicians should follow as a part of the agreement?

According to the agreement, musicians should:

Attempt to space themselves a minimum of one block apart;

Rotate their location every 60 minutes (not including set up and take down time) to allow for everyone to enjoy prime locations;

Return to a location twice in one day after a 60 minute break, if desired; and

Comply with Portland’s Noise Control ordinance, which states that noise should not be audible more than 100 feet away in any direction (including vertical)

What are the guidelines that the Downtown retail, business, and residential community should follow as a part of the agreement?

According to the agreement, the retail, business, and residential community should:

Not interrupt a musician in the middle of a number;

Be professional and courteous when speaking to a musician and not resort to threats or intimidation; and

Abide by the Police or mediator in the event of a dispute with a street musician.

If someone violates a part of the SMA, is this is a violation?

No. The only enforceable law is the Noise Ordinance, which states that a noise source cannot be audible more than 100 feet away. The remainder of the agreement is community guidelines.

Who can enforce the Noise Ordinance?

Only Portland Police officers and the City of Portland’s Noise Control officer may enforce the Noise Ordinance and issue violations.

Where can I get connected to the street musician and street performer community in Portland?

PDX Busk (http://pdxbusk.wordpress.com/ ) is a great resource for musicians and performers that live in Portland or are just traveling through Portland. Their mission is, “to create community through music, musicians and other street performers.” Additionally, The Big Busk, a music festival for Downtown Portland, will take place this year on July 16, 2011. For more information on this event, visit their website at http://thebigbusk.info/

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Posted by: Lisa Puma - October 05, 2014 10:09 PM

"Musicians" playing on buckets and those with amplifiers ALL violate the noise ordinance which is not enforced by Portland Police. Nor, are tickets issued or warnings for noise violations by the private, very passive fake security guards.No regard for downtown business owners who pay for the entitlements that support street "musicians".Instead, apathy and judgement about not supporting "musicians" and being PC.One Noise Officer for the City of Portland. That department has to cope with noise all over the city and they are expected to run downtown with a meter and give the bums a ticket? It is just insulting.

Posted by: Lisa Puma - October 05, 2014 10:10 PM

"Musicians" playing on plastic cans and those with amplifiers ALL violate the noise ordinance which is not enforced by Portland Police. Nor, are tickets issued or warnings for noise violations by the private, very passive fake security guards.No regard for downtown business owners who pay for the entitlements that support street "musicians".Instead, apathy and judgement about not supporting "musicians" and being PC.One Noise Officer for the City of Portland. That department has to cope with noise all over the city and they are expected to run downtown with a meter and give the bums a ticket? It is just insulting.

Posted by: William Scriven - June 17, 2015 02:31 PM

Funny how you use quotation marks every time you use the word "musician". It's almost as if you are inferring that all street musicians are not really musicians. I'd be willing to bet that you are not a musician yourself. Just some cranky old person who would prefer that other people be just as unhappy as you.

I can't believe you had the audacity to state that all bucket drummers (and musicians with amps) violate the noise ordinance. You don't know what youre talking/typing about. I am a guitarist of 40+ years and have been busking for about 6 (often with a bucket drummer). And for every hater like you I can assure you that there are at least 20 people who absolutely love what I/we do whether we're at the food carts, NW PDX, Astoria, Hillsboro or wherever. I am grateful that people of your 'opinion', especially when it comes to good music, are the minority.

Posted by: William Scriven - June 17, 2015 03:49 PM

Oh yeah, Mz Puma,

The last part about "bums" indicates that you are stereotyping street performers. I am a street performer. I am also gainfully employed (have been for going on 11 years)and have lived in the same residence for about 10 years.

But that's what narrow minded people do isn't it, they make assumptions about people based soley on what they think they see on the surface or by what a person may be doing.

Fortunately, your opinions/perceptions do not define who I am or who anyone else is for that matter. It's all your 'stuff', you can keep it.

Posted by: Lisa Puma - October 05, 2015 10:44 PM

Read the noise ordinance. Please. If the music or drumming is heard over 100ft away, it is a violation of the agreement.

It doesn't matter if the individual is a musician or a bum or a genius. That person is interfering with the rights of others to be able to conduct business in the area.What is so hard to understand?